Written Answers Thursday 13 May 2010

Scottish Executive

Animal Welfare

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges have been reported to the procurators fiscal under section 23 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges reported to procurators fiscal under section 23 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in each financial year since the act was implemented in October 2006.

  Of the 22 charges reported in 2009-10, 19 are still being prosecuted in court.

  

Year
Total


2006-7
8


2007-8
2


2008-9
6


2009-10
22


Grand Total
38



  Notes:

  1. The information for this question has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

Children

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to playgroup workers to acquire the qualifications that they need for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council as early years and childcare workers.

Adam Ingram: A range of support is available both locally and nationally. Local government, through their childcare partnership and early years teams, provide advice and support on access to training courses, continuous professional development, and funding for qualifications to meet registration requirements. This support has been in place since 2000.

  Nationally, we are working with the Scottish Social Services Council to ensure the registration requirements are as flexible as possible, whilst maintaining progress to achieve a competent, confident and valued workforce. Practitioners and Support Workers registering today, if not already qualified, will have three years to achieve an appropriate qualification. Managers requiring to gain the new SCQF level 9 qualification will have up to eight years to achieve this.

  Qualifications are work-based, part-time and recognise prior learning, significantly reducing the time needed to complete a qualification for most workers.

  In addition to funding opportunities through local government, the Scottish Government recently changed the eligibility criteria for Individual Learning Accounts. This will ensure much wider access, particularly for those working in the private and voluntary sectors, to £500 per year towards the cost of a qualification. An information pack on all available funding has been produced by the SSSC and is available on their website at www.SSSC.uk.com.

Children

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been with the Corporate Parenting National Training Programme carried out in conjunction with Who Cares? Scotland.

Adam Ingram: Since the Corporate Parenting National Training Programme was announced on 21 April 2010 a programme board has been established and has met once.

  Detailed programme plans including a schedule of training for all local authorities and community partners are being finalised by Who Cares? Scotland. The formal launch of the programme will be on the 25 May at the Who Cares? Scotland offices.

Crime

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the publication in September 2010 of guidance by the General Medical Council requiring doctors to inform the police whenever they treat a patient who is a victim of a knife attack, the volume of information being shared between hospitals and the police has increased.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally.

Defence

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the cancellation of the renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system would have on the Scottish budget.

John Swinney: Cancellation of the Trident nuclear missile system would create an opportunity to spend a significant sum of public money on other public spending priorities. Scotland would be entitled to the consequentials if there were any increases to comparable spending programmes such as health or education resulting from the savings created by the cancellation.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who the key Scottish stakeholders are that will be involved in helping develop future broadband strategy and responding to the recommendations of the UK Government’s Digital Britain telecoms strategy.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish internet service providers will be among the stakeholders to be consulted to explore the UK Government’s Digital Britain telecoms strategy in more detail.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has established a small group of key Scottish stakeholders in order to help us improve our understanding of wider Scottish interests in the telecoms elements of Digital Britain. This will allow us to present a robust and inclusive Scottish view of these issues to the incoming UK government.

  The first meeting of the group took place on 10 May 2010, and representatives from the key Scottish public sector agencies and main business organisations with Digital Britain interests were invited to participate. Representatives from the following organisations attended this meeting: Communications Consumer Panel; Consumer Focus Scotland; Federation of Small Businesses; Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Ofcom; Royal Society of Edinburgh; Scottish Council for Development and Industry, ScotlandIS; Scottish Enterprise, and, Scottish Trades Union Congress. The group does not include any bodies (such as telecoms companies or ISPs) which may have a direct commercial interest in Digital Britain.

Ferry Services

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its (a) capital and (b) revenue spending was in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09, is in 2009-10 and will be in 2010-11 on (A) CalMac Ferries Ltd’s services to the Western Isles covered by the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot, (B) other CalMac Ferries Ltd services, (C) NorthLink Ferries Ltd’s services to the Northern Isles and (D) other ferry services.

Stewart Stevenson: The following tables set out revenue spending on (A) the RET pilot to the Western Isles, (B) support for all ferry services provided under CalMac Ferries Ltd contract with the Scottish Government, (C) Northern Isles services (D) other ferry services and in addition spend on vessels and piers and harbours for financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09. The figures shown for financial year 2009-10 are the expected outturn figures for the year and the figures for financial year 2010-11 are the allocated budgets as detailed in "Schedule 3.7 Ferry Services in Scotland" published on page 22 of Scotland’s Budget Documents 2010-11: Budget (Scotland) Bill Supporting Document for the year ending 31 March 2011 . The Scottish Government continues to publish all its budget information at what is commonly referred to as level 3, however, for this question a further breakdown has been detailed.

  Funding to CalMac Ferries Ltd is through the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract which includes the Western Isles routes. As shown in the table below, additional funding has been provided for the RET pilot scheme to the Western Isles. Northlink Ferries Ltd is funded through the Northern Isles contract. Capital is not paid directly to the operating companies.

  

 
2007-08 (outturn)
2008-09 (outturn)


Cal Mac Ferries Ltd
£38.3 million
£51.6 million


Northlink Ferries Ltd
£28.0 million
£33.2 million


Other ferry services
£2.3 million
£3.5 million


Road Equivalent Tariff (pilot)
Nil
£1.7 million


Vessels and piers
£10.6 million
£5.6 million


Total
£79.2 million
£95.6 million



  

 
2009-10 (forecast outturn)
2010-11 (budget)


Cal Mac Ferries Ltd
£53.6 million
£45.3 million


Northlink Ferries Ltd
£36.7 million
£32.0 million


Other ferry services
£3.6 million
£2.9 million


Road Equivalent Tariff (pilot)
£6.7 million
£10.0 million


Vessels and piers
£5.7 million
£14.8 million


Total
£106.3 million
£105.0 million



  For 2010-11 it is anticipated that expenditure on each of the budget lines will vary, in line with contractual and other commitments, whilst overall spend remains within the £105 million total.

Ferry Services

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how the 38% increase in expenditure on ferry services since 2007 has been spent, as referred to by the First Minister in the chamber on 11 March 2010 ( Official Report c. 24519).

Stewart Stevenson: In 2007-08, the Scottish Government spent £68.6 million to support the ferry services provided by CalMac Ferries Ltd (Clyde and Hebrides services), NorthLink Ferries Ltd (Orkney and Shetland) and Cowal Ferries Ltd (Gourock to Dunoon).

  Since May 2007, the government has allocated additional money year-on-year to support:

  the rising costs of supporting the network of ferry services: although carryings and therefore revenue have risen, this has not kept pace with the costs of providing services: primarily crewing, fuel, ship charters and harbour dues;

  the costs of a new contract for the Clyde and Hebrides services, awarded to CalMac Ferries Ltd and which commenced on 1 October 2007 following a procurement process initiated by the previous Administration, and

  the rising costs of vessels chartered from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) reflecting the long-term transition from a grant-funded fleet to a predominantly loan-funded fleet.

  The 38% increase previously quoted was based on a like-for-like comparison, in cash terms, of the £68.6 million outturn in 2007-08 with the expenditure forecast for 2010-11 given contractual and other commitments.

  In addition, since May 2007, the government has further increased spending on ferry services by:

  awarding a new contract to Shetland Line 1984 Ltd for the provision of lift-on lift-off freight services to Orkney and Shetland, and

  launching a pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) fares to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree.

  For details of spending outturns and budgets, see the answer to question S3W-32401 on 13 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Defauls.aspx.

Finance

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its projected monetary saving will be on the Scottish budget for the four years to 2010-11 and its targeted 2% annual saving over the next three years.

John Swinney: In 2007-08, the Scottish public sector delivered £1,316 million cash-releasing efficiency savings and a further £839 million in 2008-09. The November 2009 Efficiency Delivery Plan identified potential savings of £1,111 million in 2009-10 and £1,609 million in 2010-11.

  Once the incoming UK Government confirms its intentions for the spending review and the future of the public finances, the Scottish Government will consider the detail of what that will mean in terms of the next phase of efficiencies.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister’s recent meetings in London during with the UK finance spokespersons were undertaken in his role as First Minister and, if so, (a) who attended each meeting and (b) what subjects were discussed.

John Swinney: The First Minister met, respectively: the Chancellor of the Exchequer and relevant HM Treasury officials; George Osborne MP, David Mundell MP and Philip Hammond MP, and Vince Cable MP.

  The meetings were arranged in order to seek clarity about the implications for the Scottish Government’s 2010-11 budget of the public spending proposals outlined by the chancellor and shadow chancellors, and to make them aware of the impact that any further reductions in the Scottish Budget would have on the spending programmes approved by the Scottish Parliament on 3 February and on Scottish public services more broadly. As the meetings related to government business, the First Minister undertook them in his ministerial capacity and was supported by appropriate Scottish Government officials.

Higher Education

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Edinburgh Napier University’s decision to discontinue its Communication, Advertising and PR undergraduate degree (a) how many applicants will be affected by this decision and (b) what recourse applicants who are negatively affected will have to ensure they can begin their chosen area of study.

Michael Russell: Edinburgh Napier University is an autonomous institution and is therefore responsible for managing its own course provision. The information requested could only be obtained from Edinburgh Napier University.

Higher Education

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any financial support available for students over the age of 25 who are resident in Scotland but studying in England.

Michael Russell: The types of financial support available to Scottish students studying in England can be found on the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) website: www.saas.gov.uk .

Housing

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out on the economic benefits of home access grants such as those available in England.

Michael Russell: A range of research has been carried out into the economic benefits of home internet access by various organisations. The Scottish Government has no plans to duplicate this work.

  The Scottish Government is a member of the British-Irish Council workstream on Digital Inclusion and is working alongside neighbouring administrations to ensure that good practice and successful approaches can be shared, and to promote a unified agenda on the issue as we consider what further measures may be necessary to continue to improve digital inclusion in Scotland.

Inter-Governmental Links

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the result of the UK general election will have on relations between the Scottish Government and its UK counterparts.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government will continue to pursue the best interests of Scotland in its relationship with the UK Government. As the First Minister set out in his letter to the new Prime Minister yesterday, we would expect our working relationship to be based on widely accepted principles of mutual respect and parity of esteem.

  Our key focus is on protecting the recovery and we will therefore press the UK Government to honour the plans in place for Scotland’s budget, in particular for 2010-11, and Scotland’s public services. We will look for progress on releasing the Fossil Fuel Levy Fund and on releasing Barnett consequentials to Scotland arising from regeneration-related spending on the Olympics. We will also seek agreement that no change would be made to the current system of financing devolved government without consultation and agreement with the devolved administrations.

Kinship Care

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether representatives of kinship carers will be invited to the seminar on kinship care to be carried out in conjunction with the Association of Directors of Social Work.

Adam Ingram: The purpose of the seminar organised jointly with the Association of Directors of Social Work is to bring together the Directors of Children’s Services to consider what our shared priorities should be in ensuring that all looked after children, young people, care leavers and the people who look after them get the support they need.

  I recognise, however, the acute and pressing needs of kinship carers, especially in the context of current economic conditions. I am therefore also planning to bring together key decision-makers and elected members from across local government and the kinship sector to explore the key issues and barriers faced in providing support to kinship carers. Kinship carers will be involved in this meeting.

Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the operation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Kenny MacAskill: We are committed to evaluating and monitoring the impact the Act is having. In the immediate term, we are using the Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill to strengthen some provisions and put right some problems identified during implementation. In the longer term the findings from the comprehensive monitoring and evaluation process being led by NHS Health Scotland will allow us to look at the wider effect the Act is having.

  While it is far too early to draw any firm conclusions about the impact on promoting the licensing objectives, it is encouraging that, in the first few months of operation, we are seeing the police and licensing boards taking tough action against problem premises, particularly in relation to underage sales where a number of licences have already been suspended.

Local Government

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met representatives of Orkney Islands Council.

John Swinney: Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of councils, including Orkney Islands Council.

  I had planned to meet representatives of the council on Monday but a delay to the flight prevented this from happening. I will make further arrangements to hold this meeting.

Mental Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to motion S3M-4797.1 as agreed by the Parliament on 9 September 2009, when it expects the Scottish Dementia Strategy to be published.

Shona Robison: The National Dementia Strategy will be published by early June.

  The Convener of the Health and Sport Committee has already been informed of an extension from the initial end-April deadline. The extension is in order to finalise details of the strategy and to ensure that all key partners, notably COSLA, have ample time to consider and endorse it.

Police

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Grampian Police regarding its new local policing model.

Kenny MacAskill: This government is committed to making our communities safer and stronger places to live. That is why we are delivering on our commitment to provide 1,000 additional police officers in our communities. But there would be no point in having these extra officers unless they were making a real difference on the streets across Scotland. That is why I very much welcome Chief Constable Colin McKerracher’s initiative for Grampian Police to have a renewed focus on community policing: to make local police officers more accessible and visible; to listen to the needs of local people and keep them informed, and to work with partner agencies to encourage people to take responsibility for their own behaviours and actions.

  I know from speaking to chief constables across all of the Scottish forces that they are making maximum use of the extra resources provided by this government by focussing on the need to take policing into the heart of our communities.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the highest number of prisoners was in each prison in each of the last three months.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table shows the highest population from each establishment over the last three months.

  

Establishment
February
March
April


Aberdeen
235
233
220


Addiewell
710
710
711


Barlinnie
1,386
1,439
1,438


Cornton Vale
374
380
384


Dumfries
200
194
208


Edinburgh
907
917
927


Glenochil
672
675
672


Greenock
286
274
284


Inverness
156
139
143


Kilmarnock
548
549
549


Open Estate
233
235
230


Perth
644
677
665


Peterhead
306
306
306


Polmont
765
750
772


Shotts
538
540
538

Procurement

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28748 by John Swinney on 16 November 2009, how it monitors the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that compete for public sector contracts.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s Public Contracts Scotland portal captures information on the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that express an interest in contracts advertised on the portal. Since PCS was launched in October 2008, 83% of notes of interest have been from SMEs.

  Further improvements are being made to Public Contracts Scotland to allow us to monitor the number of contracts awarded to SMEs, and a pilot is underway to examine how the portal can assist SMEs through the advertising of sub-contracting opportunities.

Schools

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what date it anticipates making an announcement on the second tranche of its capital funding for the schools investment programme.

Keith Brown: We will announce the next tranche of funding from the new school building programme later this year.

Tourism

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to promote the tourist industry in the Western Isles in 2010-11.

Jim Mather: As with all areas of Scotland, the Western Isles is marketed by VisitScotland based on its considerable strengths and its ability to deliver what visitors are looking for on their visit to Scotland. VisitScotland uses a range of channels including new media and websites, cinema, TV and radio, direct mail and PR to reach potential visitors at home and abroad.

  Particular examples of marketing campaigns which help attract visitors to the Western Isles include: A Perfect Day; Autumn Moments, Meet the Scots and of course the visitor guide for the Outer Hebrides which is available in over 100 visitor information centres across Scotland.

Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further consideration it has given to the provision of a cross-Forth ferry or hovercraft service; what arrangements are in hand, and whether it will make a statement.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government strongly supports the principle of cross-Forth ferry travel, and remains keen to see progress. Any proposals, however, remain a matter for local government to take forward - principally Fife and City of Edinburgh Councils, as well as SEStran. Most recently, the application by Fife Council for European Regional Development Funding (ERDF), to provide the harbour infrastructure to support a new service, was not successful.